Hacking the Cielo Top & Dress

Almost immediately after our Rome Collection launched in the spring we started seeing the makes trickle in. For what was a fairly beginner pattern we were surprised to see that almost every other top or dress had some little pattern tweak to it. Whether it was the length, the fabric choices, or the sleeves, it seemed this was a pattern that was destined to be customized. With the release of our extended size range this week we wanted to drop some inspirational photos to get your wheels turning if you are gearing up to make Cielo too! Or maybe like some of these creative sewists, you are on your fourth top already and are looking for ways to make this version a little different. So without further ado, let's get inspired!

CONTRAST SLEEVES

Colour blocking is always a fun choice. These sleeve takes up a fair amount of fabric so this is also a great solution if you don't have enough of a special fabric for the whole garment. Either switch out the whole sleeve or just the cuff of the lantern sleeve as these sewists on the right did here.

COLOUR BLOCK THE YOKE

So many people commented on how cute this little back yoke detail of the Cielo top is (Go Celine!). Cutting this out of a contrast fabric or lace as Chloe did here is a nice way of making it a stand out design feature and making sure your garment is truly one of a kind.

LEAVE OFF THE CUFF

The majority of these examples are View B with the lantern sleeve and the cuff left off. A few of these were cropped to varying lengths and trimmed to make them hang straight.

CUFF THE PUFF

This again is the lantern sleeve with the cuff left off. This time, however, the gathered sleeve was gathered around the elbow in a variety of ways. I imagine these sewists drafted a cuff (as it is not an included pattern piece) although a few look like they used elastic.

OUTSIDE OF THE BOX

There are a whole whack of ideas at work here. A waist tie, patch pockets, gathered but tapered long sleeves and turned into a bolero!! You can really let your mind go wild!

UNCONVENTIONAL FABRIC

Whether it's sequins, pleather or PAPER you can really fancy up this pattern with an unusual textile choice.

SHORT BUT SWEET

These were some ideas for changing up view A (cropped with a short sleeve). You could add a fun trim like these pom poms to the hem, remove the dart and the sleeve cuffs, add a v-neckline or turn the dress version into a top!

 

ALL-STARS

Sylvia here really made the most out of this pattern by making just about every version. She made a tunic length with 3/4 length sleeves, colour-blocked the shirt version,  added ruffled oyster sleeves and cuffed the gathered sleeve. Talk about a hack-master!!

 

I think the real winner of the hacking Cielo challenge (that is a thing we just made up right now) is Miss Katie Kortman. I actually think I missed one of her creations here but you get the idea. She was the real pioneer of the altered sleeve and each version has been a total fashion MOMENT. So fun!

So what do you think? Are you inspired to hack Cielo to the moon and back?!